SSUSD Board approves Tier III categorical funds transfer

The Sierra Sands Unified School District Board of Education voted 6-0 Thursday to transfer slightly more than $1.74 million of the total of a little more than $2.81 million in 2013-14 in Tier III state categorical funds to the unrestricted general fund.

The Sierra Sands Unified School District Board of Education voted 6-0 Thursday to transfer slightly more than $1.74 million of the total of a little more than $2.81 million in 2013-14 in Tier III state categorical funds to the unrestricted general fund.

Special Projects, Assessment and Technology Coordinator Laura Hickle said the 2008 and 2009 Budget Acts were signed into law Feb. 20, 2009 and created a tiered system for state categorical funds and granted flexibility to use these Tier III funds for any educational purpose through the 2014-15 school year.

“In most cases funding for affected programs are based on 2007-08 funding rather than the factors used prior to deciding what those funding amounts would be,” she said. “There are specific reporting requirements for districts who utilize this flexibility. Those include a waiver of mandate funding requirements, a need to realign to standards and provide a sufficiency of instructional materials and a public hearing.”

The board held a public hearing earlier in the meeting, but there were no comments.

“It is possible that some version of the governor’s proposed local control funding formula will supersede the current tiered flexibility system sometime in the future after that’s worked out,” Hickle said.

Budget and Finance Director Gavin MacGregor said each program is designated as active, meaning no substantial changes to the program; partial, meaning some of the funds are used for original purpose and some of the funds are used for instruction or instructional related services or plant services; closed, meaning funds are no longer used for the original purpose and have been completely flexed for instruction or instructional related services or plant services or NA meaning the district was not receiving these specific funds in 2007-08 when flexibility was implemented.

Board Vice President Kurt Rockwell asked if there are any substantial changes in what the district proposes to partially fund this year compared to last year.

“There are no substantial changes. What we implemented this year is what we’re proposing for next year,” MacGregor said.